Watthour meter socket with secured access high voltage section
View Patent ↗An electrical watthour meter socket includes a first sub-enclosure receiving high voltage components and a second sub-enclosure receiving lower voltage components. The first and second sub-enclosures are electrically isolated from each other access control components to allow independent access to lower voltage components in the second sub-enclosure without the use of personal protective equipment required for exposure to components carrying high voltage.
1. A meter socket comprising:
a single enclosure;
a first sub-enclosure disposed entirely within the interior of the single enclosure and at least partially defined by the single enclosure, the first sub-enclosure containing high voltage electrical components including a current transformer coupled to high voltage power conductors and having lower voltage secondary conductors; and
a second sub-enclosure disposed entirely within the interior of the single enclosure, and at least partially defined by the single enclosure, and accessibly isolated from the first sub-enclosure, the second sub-enclosure containing lower voltage utility watthour meter socket and meter test switch connections for bypassing the watthour meter socket;
the first and second sub-enclosures electrically isolating the high voltage electrical components from the lower voltage electrical components; and
an access control component associated with the first and second sub-enclosures, the access control component blocking access to the first sub-enclosure when allowing access to the second sub-enclosure.
2. The meter socket of claim 1 further comprising:
the access control component controlling access to the first sub-enclosure independently of access to the second sub-enclosure.
3. The meter socket of claim 2 wherein:
the access control component substantially blocks access to an interior of the first sub-enclosure.
4. The meter socket of claim 1 further comprising:
an interior barrier separating the single enclosure into the first and second sub-enclosures.
5. The meter socket of claim 4 wherein:
the first and second sub-enclosures are disposed horizontally side-by-side.
6. The meter socket of claim 4 further comprising:
first and second covers respectively mounted over the first and second sub-enclosures allowing independent and electrically isolated access to the components in each of the first and second sub-enclosures.
7. The meter socket of claim 4 wherein:
the first and second sub-enclosures are disposed one of horizontally and vertically side-by-side in the single enclosure.
8. The meter socket of claim 7 further comprising:
first and second covers respectively mounted over the first and second sub-enclosures allowing independent and electrically isolated access to the components in each of the first and second sub-enclosures.